Looking ahead to next year, there are 4 games on the schedule that stick out "make or break" games in the ND season.
Vs Wisconsin (Lambeau Field)
At Pitt (for obvious Pitt / ND reasons)
Clemson
At USC (they will be much improved)
ND is set to return a ton of starters / co starters.
The offense could return 9 returning starters / co-starters...
Losing
WR: Chase Claypool
Slot: Chris Finke
Returning
QB: Ian Book
RB: Tony Jones Jr
WR: Braden Lenzy (co-starter)
WR: Lawrence Keys (co-starter)
WR: Kevin Austin Jr (new starter)
TE: Cole Kmet
TE: Tommy Tremble
LT: Liam Eichenberg
LG: Aaron Banks
C: Jarrett Patterson
RG: Tommy Kraemer
RT: Robert Hainsey
OT: Josh Lugg (co-starred due to injury)
Defense could return 7-8 returning starters / co-starters...
Losing
DE: Khalid Kareem
DE: Julian Okwara
LB: Asmar Bilal
CB: Troy Pride Jr
CB: Jalen Elliot
Returning
DE: Daelin Hayes (co-starter)
DE: Ade Ogundeji (new starter)
DT: Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa
NG: Kurt Hinish
Rover: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (may move to buck)
Mike: Drew White
Buck: Jack Lamb (new starter)
CB: Shaun Crawford
CB: Tariq Bracy (new starter)
S: Alohi Gilman (would be HUGE)
S: Kyle Hamilton (co-starter)
We have to see how things play out with 5th / 6th year players, but if the guys expected to return do infact wind up returning, ND could have another quality team, with quite a bit of proven depth to sustain injuries.
Notre Dame could have as many as 17 out of 22 returning starters / co-starters and both starting specialists backs.
IMO, that sets up for another 10-2 season if ND can split the 4 games I listed above. 11-1 and being right back in the thick of the playoff conversation is possible as well if they can go 3-1 in that slate and their lone loss isn't at USC (too late in the season).
Thoughts?
Vs Wisconsin (Lambeau Field)
At Pitt (for obvious Pitt / ND reasons)
Clemson
At USC (they will be much improved)
ND is set to return a ton of starters / co starters.
The offense could return 9 returning starters / co-starters...
Losing
WR: Chase Claypool
Slot: Chris Finke
Returning
QB: Ian Book
RB: Tony Jones Jr
WR: Braden Lenzy (co-starter)
WR: Lawrence Keys (co-starter)
WR: Kevin Austin Jr (new starter)
TE: Cole Kmet
TE: Tommy Tremble
LT: Liam Eichenberg
LG: Aaron Banks
C: Jarrett Patterson
RG: Tommy Kraemer
RT: Robert Hainsey
OT: Josh Lugg (co-starred due to injury)
Defense could return 7-8 returning starters / co-starters...
Losing
DE: Khalid Kareem
DE: Julian Okwara
LB: Asmar Bilal
CB: Troy Pride Jr
CB: Jalen Elliot
Returning
DE: Daelin Hayes (co-starter)
DE: Ade Ogundeji (new starter)
DT: Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa
NG: Kurt Hinish
Rover: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (may move to buck)
Mike: Drew White
Buck: Jack Lamb (new starter)
CB: Shaun Crawford
CB: Tariq Bracy (new starter)
S: Alohi Gilman (would be HUGE)
S: Kyle Hamilton (co-starter)
We have to see how things play out with 5th / 6th year players, but if the guys expected to return do infact wind up returning, ND could have another quality team, with quite a bit of proven depth to sustain injuries.
Notre Dame could have as many as 17 out of 22 returning starters / co-starters and both starting specialists backs.
IMO, that sets up for another 10-2 season if ND can split the 4 games I listed above. 11-1 and being right back in the thick of the playoff conversation is possible as well if they can go 3-1 in that slate and their lone loss isn't at USC (too late in the season).
Thoughts?
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